Google’s Lookout App Helps Blind Users Navigate Their Surroundings

Google’s Lookout app is designed to help blind and visually impaired users explore their surroundings. (Photo Credit: Google)

Google’s Lookout app, and AI-powered app that helps blind and visually impaired users explore their surroundings, is now available on Pixel devices in the U.S.

Google, which announced Lookout last year, designed the app to provide more independence to roughly 253 million people worldwide who are blind or visually impaired. The app, which works similar to Google Lens’ technology, lets people search and take action on nearby objects by pointing their smartphones. Individuals with a Pixel device in the U.S. can download Lookout on Google Play.

Lookout helps people in situations where they might need to ask for assistance, including learning about a space for the first time, reading text, and completing daily routines like cleaning, cooking, and shopping. Lookout has three modes: Explore, Shopping, and Quick read.

Google advises users to hold or wear the device (hanging a Pixel phone from a lanyard around the neck or placing it in a front shirt pocket), for easy Lookout access. Users can open Lookout, select one of the three modes, and lookout will detect nearby objects, people, and text as they move through a space. Thanks to AI, Lookout speaks items as it detects, making it easy to focus on daily tasks and easily navigate without obstacles.

Unlike other apps, Lookout doesn’t require further tapping: Once it’s opened, users just have to keep their phone pointed forward for Lookout to warn them about nearby items. Without the need to press multiple buttons, users can accomplish what they need to do and safely get to know a new environment.

Even though Lookout is only available on Pixel devices in the U.S., Google aims to bring Lookout to more countries, devices, and platforms in the near future. Lookout users are also welcomed to send any feedback to Google via Google’s Disability Support Team and Google’s Help Center.